So my partner and I had always had really good communication. Anytime there were fears, doubts, hard life stuff, etc. We always managed to talk through it in a really healthy way. She was my rock.
About 6-8 months ago she says she's unhappy with her job and her grandfather is really sick so she wants to be close to him before he dies. I say ok I fully support you, let's move out there. I dont want to give too much info but the area is 24 hours of driving from where I have spent my life. I have never been anywhere near there.
So she got a 3 month temp job in the new location that she wanted to use as a networking oportunity. But I couldnt go because we could not affort to break our lease. We texted every day, called on the weekends when she had cell phone service.
I got a promotion with a sweet little relocation package to the new area. So know I knew how much we could spend on housing even if she wasnt working. This is in hindsight where the first red flag was raised. She was completely non commital on any places I showed her.
The plan was for her to come back on the 19th of August and then we'd move together. She hadnt bought a plane ticket. I already have a start date and I have to be in person for my job. She suggested that I just go, then her dad will come and they'll drive out together. Ok whatever. If that's how she wants to do it, then we'll do it. Surely nothing can go wrong here because our relationship was so solid.
I forgot to mention that we talked about staying in a relative's basement as a back up plan. So I ask, "have you talked to them about me staying there? Things are getting down to the wire".
She suggests I reach out to my new manager and ask if there's anybody at work I can stay with... This was the "wtf, is my life about to collapse" moment, or is she just in lala land?
Anyway skipping a head a bit she ends that convo with something along the lines of "we need to talk"
So she calls me and says "Sooo, and maybe you've know this for some time, but I like girls." (I did not know this at all btw. I've never seen her even look at another girl that way). I say "ok, and are we moving together?" She says no, she wants to stay here to "figure things out"
I told her "had you told me this a year ago or even a month ago I would have been your biggest supporter. But you waited until the point where its extremely desctructive to what we have together and to my life in general"
She just said she was sorry over and over. I dont really remember much more.
I'm not even sure if I'm asking for advice here. But moreso wondering if anybody has heard of such a thing before.
I didn't think a relationship with such good communication could ever just be gone so fast with no warning. And we're in our 30s, we're not kids. I can't beleive that she would put me in this situation and now have to move to a place I dont know, with any support I have thousands of miles away. I'm just dumbfounded
Edit: Thank you all so much for your responses. I appreciate all of your perspectives and the effort put into your reponses. It's incredibly helpful to know that I am not alone in this experience. I love you all.
7 years together. 30’s. Grown ass adult who hasn’t figured herself out yet. Selfish behavior. Probably more selfishness on the way.
Perspective one: you got robbed of 7 years because you hitched your wagon to the wrong star. Our most precious thing we have is our time on this earth.
Perspective two: you dodged a bullet. This could have happened farther down the road and been way more damaging. What if you had kids? What if you were in your 60’s?
Perspective Three: maybe it was good while it lasted. Maybe you continue to be friends.
It’s gonna hurt for a long while. Spending that long relying on, caring for, and sharing your life with someone is gonna make a serious wound that’s very slow to heal. It may never heal completely.
My advice is to extricate yourself as fast as possible and pretend they are dead. Seriously. Grieve. Rip the bandaid off. Send her belongings to her. Remove names from any leases, utilities, or other shared accounts. Leave no reason for future contact. Is this someone you want to be friends with (and their new partner)? If not then cut all ties and change your number and socials. Refuse further contact. Make it nearly impossible to get in touch with you. Guess what? That 7 years can be a black hole for her as well. You really don’t want to be contacted later by this person when they feel like they need validation, approval, or forgiveness, or at your weakest point try and get you back. Mourn the loss of the idealized person you thought she was and do your best to move on in as healthy a way as you can muster. Figure out which mutual friends are yours and hers and cut the chaff as amicably as you can. Most importantly rebuild. Do not stagnate. What just happened to you is not a slight offense. It’s a killing blow to some people. Your foundation was just shaken. Don’t let it be your downfall. You can forgive on your own timeline and it won’t require letting her know. After what they took from you you owe them no more than the basic courtesy of an civil split, but nothing beyond that point. Cut all ties. Do not contact. Most importantly don’t let it ruin your trust in your next relationship.
+1 do the full scorched earth procedure, followed by a life well lived
Something similar happened to me 24 years ago after college. I’m old by Lemmy user standards and I’ve been drinking tonight. Maybe don’t listen to me, but I’ve been married for almost 20 years now so maybe there is hope.
Good idea, going to Blips And Chitz is a great self care exercise. Play some Roy, have some pizza, forget about her.
It's interesting that you say the bit about being selfish and idealization. It's been really hard to imagine this as selfishness. But that is because in my conception of this person is so much selflessness. She never gave me a reason to think otherwise. But clearly this is an idealization.
Your 3rd perspective would be my preference, had we talked like adults and she didnt just go scorched earth on the relationship. I need to ackowledge that selfishness and the fact that it has nothing to do with me.
It does feel like she died. And I actually just heard about this phenomenon where people who are unable to attend the funerals of loved ones have a hard time believing that they're gone. Looking at the corpse gives you closure. So I think I may talk with her just to get that closure, but I need to aknowledge that I'm looking at the corpse of what we had. Thanks
You’re talking to internet strangers. And as an internet stranger I’m projecting my experiences on your situation. You’re an adult so you can make your own choices. In my experience it was a bad idea to leave any connection to that past relationship. It turned out poorly for me. It could be different for you. You know your limits and capabilities. When I read your story it immediately struck a chord so I chimed up. Take it or leave it. If you can get past it, be friends, and still lead a healthy life that’s what really matters. That’s not something most people can do.
My opinion is that stragners actually give some of the best advice. Especially here on lemmy is a different breed.
That being said I wasn't clear. Say she had come to me in a mature way, maybe a month ago at the latest. And she articulated her feelings, fears, desires, etc. I could have found a place of understanding for her.
Now I need to see the corpse. The corpse is dead. It's not coming back, if it did it would be an abomination lol